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The John McCain Campaign-Suspension Timeline

The last two weeks have thrown Wall Street into a tailspin and sent Cabinet members to their knees. But they seem to have weighed especially heavily on Senator John McCain, who went so far as to suspend his campaign—and almost cancel the first presidential debate—in order to address the crisis. Heroic altruism or desperate act of politicking? You decide.

McCain cancels his scheduled appearance on David Letterman’s late-night talk show, claiming he was needed in D.C. for the negotiations. Letterman is enraged to learn McCain is still in New York, prepping for an interview with Couric …

… because this critical hour is no time for funny business.

… prompting the moderate Midwesterner to suggest that the suspension might have more to do with McCain’s flagging poll numbers.

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9/24

McCain spends the night at the Hilton in New York …

… because he needs his economy-fixing rest.

… because he isn’t that pressed to go fix the economy.

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9/25

On the first day of campaign suspension, McCain’s Web site is still live, and still accepting donations.

… because John McCain doesn’t have time to fix his Web site when he’s busy fixing the economy.

… because he will need the funds when the campaign resumes.

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9/25

Palin makes a highly visible visit to Ground Zero …

… revealing her uncontainable patriotic fervor.

… revealing that no one told her the whole campaign thing was called off.

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9/25

McCain and Palin attend a Clinton Global Initiative event in New York.

Ten hours before the scheduled debate, McCain quietly announces the resumption of his campaign …

…because the sheriff can’t ride off into the sunset when the world needs him.

…hoping his suspension bluff will catch Obama off guard.

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9/26, 9 p.m.

McCain participates in the debate as scheduled; gives the bailout plan a half-hearted endorsement, saying he will most likely vote for it. The debate, which McCain was expected to win, ends in a virtual tie.

McCain couldn’t focus because he was distracted by the economy.

As good as a victory for Obama. Plus, polls showed voters felt Obama won.

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9/27

Gallup poll: Obama, 49%; McCain, 44%.

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9/27

In Washington, McCain called leaders of the House and Senate to drum up support for the bill.

Would have worked, too, if that Pelosi hadn’t chimed in.

Yeah, that went well.

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9/28

Gallup poll: Obama, 50%; McCain, 42%.

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9/29

The bailout plan is scuttled in the House of Representatives.

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9/29

McCain blames the plan’s failure on Obama, for infusing partisanship into the process, then, in the same breath, says, “Now is not the time to fix blame.”